My daughter and academics...need advice.
 

My daughter is 15 and is a freshman in high school. She's a brilliant student and has made nothing but A's her entire life. She's in advanced math, english, and science classes and has been since 3rd grade.

However, she isn't challenged. It's almost as if she's already got the knowledge. She took a test put out by ACT in the fall. She explained that it was something like an ACT equivalent for freshmen.

Her scores are phenomenal. It says that she's in the top 1% of her high school but that she's also in the top 2% in the nation. In math, NOBODY scored higher than she did, even in the nation, as her score indicates a 100%, meaning that 100% of everyone who took that test scored at or below her score.

My problem is, how do I advance her thirst for knowledge? I considered having her start college this coming fall, taking a night class or two. She can handle it, but she's also active in her school, and I'm afraid that it would cause conflict in areas she needs to be involved in so she can obtain scholarships.

Her goal is to have a couple degrees, probably doctorates, in the Engineering and Technologies area. She hasn't narrowed anything down yet, but it will be scientific in nature.

She's already has her planning portfolio finished, where she's mapped out what classes she will be taking from now until the end of her senior year.

Can someone help me out? I'm not even sure what kind of advice to ask for! I'm just frustrated that the school doesn't seem to be able to keep up with her to challenge her more.

Thanks.

Re: My daughter and academics...need advice.
 

HO - nothing worse than being bored in school. They advanced me twice and I was never challenged and JCM was a joke academically. I'd say trust her to do what she feels she can do without overloading herself. She may surprise you.:thumbsup

Blessings, Rhoni

Re: My daughter and academics...need advice.
 

Illinois schools don't and won't advance kids. There was a school in Wisconsin that considered advancing her a couple years ago, but decided against it because they felt she'd miss some important educational experiences, especially in the sciences, even though they did a lot of tests including an IQ test to qualify her for advancement.

Problem was, she'd already had those science experiences because of being in advanced classes in Illinois before we'd moved to WI. Now we are back in IL.

It's impossible for her to graduate early from here because they require 26 credits for graduation, and she can only get 7 credits per year. In addition, I don't want her graduating early if it will mess her up in obtaining scholarships. I need as much help as I can get, so her goal is to get as many scholarships as possible.

She's joining the debate team next year, so perhaps I can talk her into posting here and setting some folks straight....LOL!

Re: My daughter and academics...need advice.
 

Honestly, I would have her start taking some of the general ed college courses as soon as she is able or the college/tech school will let her. Once she DOES graduate HS she will have a dozen or more credits in the bag and already be a semester ahead of everyone else starting.

Re: My daughter and academics...need advice.
 

Absolutely! Good advice! The High School will let you take half day and take classes at the local college and she'll get a head start on her academic degree. I took the ACT also and it is much like the SAT but more specialized in general academics, such as; Math, History, Science, Language Arts, & reading comprehension. Sounds like you have a genious on your hands and she'll be good at whatever she chooses to do.

Girls tend to mature faster than boys so her getting out of High School early would not really affect her socially. She'll be fine! Tell her I said, "You go girl"!

Blessings, Rhoni

Re: My daughter and academics...need advice.
 

Her goal is to have over 40 credits by the time she graduates HS.....LOL!

If she starts this fall, taking 6-7 credits a semester, she'll have 36-42 credits.

In addition, some of the HS classes have dual credits also.

She's hoping to have her first bachelor degree by the time she's 20 and a doctorate by the time she's 24. But she's not even wanting to stop there! LOL!

Re: My daughter and academics...need advice.
 

All I can add is I WISH I was that smart!!! :thumbsup

Re: My daughter and academics...need advice.
 

Not here they won't until she's in her senior year. Her college classes don't and won't count for dual credit and she has to have 26 to graduate.

If she graduated early, it wouldn't be that early since her birthday is just 3 weeks after the cut-off for IL. She's always been one of the oldest in her classes for that reason. As for her social status, that's never been a problem. She's coming to the Jackson event and she's excited because she interacts with adults quite well. I'm thankful that she's not an outsider in regard to her peers because she interacts well with them also. She's always been outgoing, and for that, I'm thankful. It seems that kids like her are usually loners. She's not like that.

Re: My daughter and academics...need advice.
 

Oh, me too! I'm just glad she never needs help with homework!! LOL!

Re: My daughter and academics...need advice.
 

Another suggestion would be to look in your area as to what compaines hire high school interns. When I was in high school my senior year I went to school 1/2 day, then worked as an engineering intern the other half. I also worked every summer....so I could decide which field of eng. I wanted to go into before college.

Its not a bad idea to take some general college classes as well, but I would also like to bring to the front that college is just as much about personal development and maturity as it is about scholastics. I wouldnt rush through college or high school if I were her.

I was bored as a child in school as well, graduated valedictorian with almost no effort it seems, but I wouldnt give up the "education" I recieved about life in college for the world. I could have zoomed through, but I would have missed so much.

But go ahead and be super proud of your child....that is awesome!:thumbsup